6. Baltimore (7) (6-3): There should be a running clock in Ravens’ game at Carolina today.

7. Indianapolis (8) (6-3): Peyton Manning has won five of the last games against the Patriots.

8. New Orleans (10) (6-3): Coach Sean Peyton believes this is the best his defense has played during his tenure with the Saints. 9. Philadelphia (11) (6-3): Can Vick put on another stunning performance against a better N.Y. Giants defense?

10. N.Y. Giants (6) (6-3): Giants go from being anointed best team in the NFC to losing to the flat-lining Cowboys. 11. Chicago (12) (7-3): Doing it with smoke and mirrors, but hard to argue with their record.

16. San Diego (19) (4-5): Phillip Rivers having an impressive season with, other than Antonio Gates, receivers no one has heard of. 17. Seattle (23) (5-4): Lack of depth could be an issue down the stretch. 18. Kansas City (15) (5-4): The Chiefs have lost two straight.

19. Miami (14) (5-5): Need to rely more on the legs of Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams, and less on the arm of third stringer Tyler Thigpen. 20. St. Louis (16) (4-5): Rams looking to extend home winning streak to five against Falcons. 21. Houston (20) (4-5): Defense keeps finding ways to lose games. 22. Minnesota (21) (3-6): Could this be the last game for Brad Childress?

27. Arizona (25) (3-6): The wheels are coming off in the desert. 28. Dallas (30) (2-7): Impressive debut for interim coach Jason Garrett in road win over Giants. 29. Cincinnati (26) (2-7): Bengals have lost six straight, but get homecoming opponent in Buffalo.

30. Detroit (28) (2-7): It’s the battle of backup quarterbacks, as the Lions’ Shaun Hill faces the Cowboys’ Jon Kitna. 31. Buffalo (32) (1-8): Bills show life with win over Detroit last week.

32. Carolina (31) (1-8): Panthers starting Brian St. Pierre at quarterback – who was a stay-at-home dad in Boston last week.

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